Microtubers from somatic embryos of Bunium persicum.

Improvement in induction and growth of microtubers was related to macro and micro constituents of MS-medium, kinetin and sucrose levels. MS-medium at half strength constituents induced more conversion of somatic embryos (75%) with marginally longer and more tubering shoots (75%). However, tuber size was one third of full strength medium grown tubers. Addition of various concentrations of kinetin revealed a dose dependent stimulatory relationship in tuber formation showing enhanced tuber formation and their growth at 1 x 10(-8) M kinetin level. All plantlets produced tubers of 32.5 mg average weight. Plant conversion and shoot growth was maximum at 30 g/L of sucrose concentration and tuber weight increased approximately five times when sucrose level was raised to 60 g/L. Tubering explants also increased from 2 to 90%.